The Renaissance Flute: A Contemporary Guide [Paperback]

Not only is this book beautifully produced it's also fascinating. The Renaissance period is one that has generally been in the flute-playing shadows and often not thought about at all, so it's great that this lovely volume is completely readable. Right from the outset it is made clear that you can play everything in it on the modern flute so anyone can have a go, and there is just so much here that will encourage you to do just that. Texts and translations of the madrigals for all the transcriptions give the music character, sub-headings such as 'Hexachord Syllable Tonal Qualities' make you want to find out more and there are plenty of musical examples to experiment with. All of which will clearly open up this genre to a much wider audience - hooray!

This is a fascinating volume which, over the course of 250 pages, provides a thorough grounding into the Renaissance flute. Packed full of practical tips, historical and stylistic information, repertoire examples and fingering charts, this is a comprehensive guide and an invaluable addition to any flute player’s library.

Each of the topics covered is explored succinctly, giving core information and often suggesting starting points for further study. The writing style is approachable and draws on the extensive practical knowledge of the authors, providing a well-balanced mixture of academic information and guidance for performers.

The opening chapter provides some useful context to the Renaissance flute, its history and how it went on to be developed into the perhaps more familiar Baroque flute and beyond. The authors introduce the type of music that was prevalent in the era, and some general contextual information about developments happening at that time. The book goes on to discuss the instruments themselves, serving as a useful buyers’ guide and covering areas such as types of wood, choices of pitch, contemporary makers and how to look after a Renaissance flute. There are numerous tips here which will help players to approach the repertoire with a greater understanding, through a deeper understanding of the instrument itself, its idiosyncrasies and its construction. Detailed, annotated fingering charts are provided, which discuss the feel and response of every note.

There are sections on ensemble playing, once more packed full of invaluable practical advice, covering topics such as intonation, vibrato, transposition and temperament. There are also exercises to help the reader develop tone, intonation, articulation, hexachords, modes and playing in groups, and information regarding stylistic features such as diminutions, ornamentation and musica ficta. Advice is given on approaching and interpreting historical scores, including an extensive list of online sources. Different Renaissance musical forms are explained, and repertoire suggestions are provided as case study examples for flute groups of different sizes.

The book is supported by a companion website, with audio examples, instructional videos and parts for some of the ensemble music discussed.

This publication is a wonderfully informative resource, which demonstrates that the Renaissance flute is both approachable and relevant to contemporary musical life. The combination of academic information and practical knowledge means it is an ideal resource for research, as well as an excellent teaching resource for anyone wanting to learn to play the Renaissance flute. This is essential reading for anyone with a curiosity about the history of the flute, and an asset to any flute player’s library. As for me—I’ve got my Renaissance flute and I’m giving it a go!